Las Vegas to Reno with many stops!!

[sincitychains]

Oh and the initial road trip won't be with all the kids. I'd take them somewhere nearby like Flagstaff or Cedar City...

[W. Larrison]

I know you said up to 4 kids and 2 dogs.. but that's a lot to carry -- to the point I suspect you'd have a hard time fitting them into an Explorer or an extended Cab pickup for a long trip, with lots of miles per day.

Hmm.. another thing to, is that when you stop somewhere they're all going to *explode* out of the car, just to burn off energy. Trying to stuff them back into a camper or trailer may not be a good idea.

My suggestion would be go back to the camping idea -- and pick whatever vehicle is largest with most number of seats with seatbelts that will survive the trip. If your Explorer has the 3rd row of seats, that might be an option.

Get a cheap ($50?) cargo bag for the roof, so you can clear out as much stuff from the passenger area. You'll need the volume for the kid's traveling entertainment -- books and CD players (with headphones!) and games and etc. as well as 4 passenger. And get at least 2 tents -- maybe 3 smaller ones. One for you, and at least one for the kids... Add in a couple of collapsible camp chairs (for you! like $10 apiece), and maybe an "Easyup" sun/ rain shelter ($50?), and you'd be reasonably ready to go. You'll want the acreage when you stop just to spread things out so people aren't snapping at each other after being cooped up in the car all day.

Now, if you have a smaller load of kids and dogs, then you could go for something with a smaller footprint -- back to the camper or trailer.

Background: I support a local Boy Scout troop, and have traveled up to half a day each way with up to six, 11-14 year old boys in the vehicle with me. Camping gear on the roof, but they each have a daypack with their personal gear in the car.

[sincitychains]

While I appreciate all of these ideas...maybe I didn't express my intent on the camper enough. Really, the road trip is expressly for the camper experience. I'm not even all that intent on seeing the sights along the way...however, I might as well if I'm going to be doing this traveling.

[PNW Judy]

When you say that the trip is more for the experience of sleeping in a camper or a trailer, then why burn miles? Just find either a camper or trailer and stay close to home. But there are no campers that will sleep you, 4 kids, and 2 dogs comfortably. They're just not big enough. And even getting a trailer to do this might mean getting a bigger trailer than you might want to tow with your older pickup.

Add to that, I doubt you will find any for $700 or less. Sorry. When we bought our camper almost 20 years ago, we did only pay $300 for it. It was a bargain but was quite old and in pretty sad shape. It took about another $300 (if I remember right) and hours of work to get it in shape for the road. It slept 4 plus a dog that slept on the floor. And the 2 kids were crowded after they got to be about 10-11 years old. About 8 years ago, we upgraded to a small trailer. It took about a year of rather diligent looking around our area to find a trailer that met our needs for under $2000. And prices have gone up since those times. The most the trailer could sleep was 6 but one of the beds was pretty crowded with 6. 5 was a better fit. Plus dog on the floor, of course. Probably could have had 2 dogs but that would have made this way too crowded, imho, with little floorspace to walk around.

I don't know if it's possible to find something in today's world, with today's prices, for $700 or not. But I think you will have to really do some hard looking to find it. Sorry if that sounds negative to you. I just know what I see out there and for something like $700, you're not likely to find anything that is currently road-safe.

A good place to look around and get a feel for prices would be on Ebay. Check out the RV section for the truck campers and travel trailers.

[sincitychains]

Actually I've found quite a few campers for under $1000 in several places. I'm prepared to travel a few hundred miles for a really good one.

Why not stay close to home? What would be the point in the road trip? LOL.
I also plan on using this as a mobile weather tracking unit next summer when I chase storms.


I've checked ebay...not much of a selection there. I'm looking for a 6ft Six Pac. My dad found an awesome one for 2900 bucks and is considering paying a bit more for something this awesome.

[Midwest Michael]

Why not stay close to home? What would be the point in the road trip?

Some of the best roadtrips you can take are just a hundred miles from home.

Here is the better question, if all you want is the experience of using a camper, and you don't even care if you see the sights, then why bother with a long roadtrip?

As far as your camper situation goes, I don't think we can provide any more help. If you believe you can find a camper that will provide enough space for you, 4 kids, and 2 dogs, your 18 year old pickup, and do it all for $700, then you are set.

I, like the others, am not sure how you're going to find something that fits these criteria, but if and when you do, please let us know what you come up with.

[sincitychains]

Dad is going to see it today (it was a cab-over camper shell for $400). And the long roadtrip, well I live driving! Also, I've seen just about everything nearby...and my favorite places are on my list for this trip.

[Mark Sedenquist]

Dad is going to see it today (it was a cab-over camper shell for $400). And the long roadtrip, well I live driving! Also, I've seen just about everything nearby...and my favorite places are on my list for this trip.

Maybe it will be OK -- Pretty scary proposition for me though.

Mark

[PNW Judy]

If you're looking at a camper with interior amenities like stove, fridge, table, storage, beds, etc., I doubt you're going to find anything usable, sturdy, and in working condition for that price. I hope I'm wrong and you're find a great deal.

However, you also called it a shell. A shell is just the exterior with no amenities inside. If that's the case, $400 is a realistic price to find a used shell for. But you won't get all the things you say you wanted. However, this is a fine way to travel/camp.

In either case, I'm unconvinced that you will be able to get all those kids and dogs in there and travel safely and comfortably.

Actually, I'm more concerned about safe traveling right now. How can you fit 4 kids and 2 dogs plus you, the driver, in a Ford Ranger safely? Even if you put the dogs in the camper/shell while driving, are there enough seatbelts for the rest of you?

[sincitychains]

Yes there are enough seatbelts...the Ranger takes 3 in the front and two in the back in the jump seats...seatbelts for all. The dogs can ride in the camper...just a small dog and a medium sized dog.

Sorry about the CL ad (Editor)...didn't know that was against the rules.

Anyway, the camper is in rough shape and will need some cleaning and new curtains...will also need some exterior painting, but my parents are VERY good at finding these things. They put a deposit down on it and I should be driving out to Riverside, CA to pick it up in a couple weeks.

thanks for all of your help and suggestions. I'll be checkin out now!